Cuttack: The week-long Durga Puja festivities concluded on Thursday as devotees gathered at Devigada Ghat on the banks of Kathajodi river to witness the grand immersion of Goddess Durga amid colourful illuminations, traditional music and elaborate processions. All 176 puja mandaps participated in the immersion procession, moving through the city’s narrow lanes with decorated tableaux, musical bands and devotees dancing to traditional beats before reaching the riverbank.With one new addition this year, 37 puja committees now have silver tableaux, popularly known as Chandi Medha. Sahebzada Bazaar joined the elite club this year. “All the puja committees and the Cuttack Durga Puja Shanti Committee had decided to make the immersion ceremony DJ- and booze-free, which was observed by most committees,” said Dipayan Pattnaik, Shanti Committee member.Visitors praised Cuttack’s silver filigree, gold ornaments, tableaux, conch performances and illuminations. “Bhasani is more interesting than pandal-hopping, as all the medhas come here. Popular bands, tableaux, traditional conch performances and unique illuminations made the procession special,”Suresh Das, a resident of Dhenkanal. “Several puja committees brought famous musical bands from Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Visakhapatnam. Traditional bands from Sambalpur, Bolangir and Bargarh were also major attractions,” said visitor Sanjit Giri, who was spotted near Buxi bazaar.The district administration designated a route from College Chowk through Mangalabag, Mani Sahu Chowk, Buxi Bazaar and Choudhury Bazaar to Devigada for smooth movement of the idols. Cuttack Municipal Corporation dug three large artificial ponds at Devigada to minimise river pollution.“This year, we have given maximum importance to environment-friendly immersion. Over 25 workers and three cranes were deployed at the site for hassle-free immersion,” said mayor Subhash Singh. Security was strengthened with 130 platoons of police, two companies of paramilitary personnel and more than 500 officers. Over 400 CCTV cameras were installed at strategic locations, DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said.